Monday, May 18, 2015

Changes & trends in Employee relations

One of the most important factors in Human resource management is employee relations. Employee relations can be simply identified as: The maintaining of the relationship between employer and employee. That maintenance should have a positive effect on certain factors as productivity, motivation & the individual’s psychological well-being. Mainly employee relations focus in solving and preventing concerns that could evolve or emerge through work situation that involves individuals. (nasa.gov, 2012) (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, 2008).

Changes & trends in Employee relations
Current trends in employee relations as mentioned in Torrington, et al. (2008) seems to show that the cultural aspects have changed the relation in where employees and employers attitudes have developed that forms a relation of partnership (Torrington, Hall and Taylor, 2008).
The employee relationship has emerged from being union based where individual relations came secondary, towards non-union based, it has been reported that in 1998 in the UK, “47% of workplaces have no union members at all” (Gennard and Judge, 2005: 10).
Due to the changing environment and factors such as, labour market competition, globalization, low barriers of trade, technologies and the trends of trying to develop and provide all customer needs and wants as they request it have led the organizations to negotiate and focus with “individuals rather than employees as one collective body” (Gennard and Judge, 2005: 11) in terms of how each can add value to one another through exchange of services.
Current employment relations that are based on “employer and individual employee” is based on certain factors such as:
·         The accomplishment of the organization
·         Employee trust, fairness and commitment
·         Involvement and engagement.
·         Supporting the organization in enhancing efficiency, profits and productivity.
             (Gennard and Judge, 2005)
However, there is an evidence as well that there is an unhealthy sign of feeling insecure in organizations and that employees are silenced by fear ‘‘at least 70% of the 260 people we interviewed said that they had hesitated to speak up because they feared some type of repercussion.’’ (Jennifer J. Kish-Gephart et al., 2009 cited Ryan and Oestrich 1998:  ). So there seems to be a gap between that.
In such setting, it is impossible to claim if this current trend and position of employee relations is for the benefit to the employee or not. It depends on the direction of each single organization, and each one is structured differently based on certain factors. Such as:
Product market: Patterns of demand & industry competition.
Employer: Procedures & policies, inner culture, size of the company, financial capacity & expectations.
Employee: Experience, efficiency, productivity & performance. Awareness of rules, regulations and rights.
Job Characteristics: Contract, position, pay & incentives.
External labour market: Availability of employee replacement, availability of jobs, threats that can accrue from unions, government rules and regulations.

We have also seen 2014 was a busy year for state and federal legislatures in the employment law area – which means 2015 will be a challenging year for employers from a compliance standpoint.  A number of new laws and policy initiatives go into effect in 2015 that will have a substantial impact on your business through the significant changes in the employment law landscape.
Have an insight on current trends and recent developments in areas such as:
  • Pregnancy Accommodation Amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act and the EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Guidelines
  • It’s a Wellness Policy – that has to be good, right?
  • Ban the Box legislation and the continuing saga of criminal background checks
  • Guns, Drugs [and Rock-n-Roll?] in the workplace
  • And other hot employment law topics.

  


Interview Puzzles

1. You Are Given Two Candles Of Equal Size, Which Can Burn 1 Hour Each. You Have 
To Measure 90 Minutes With These Candles. (There Is No Scale Or Clock). Also U R 
Given A Lighter.

Ans: 1. First Light Up The Two Ends Of The 1st Candle. When It Will Burn Out Light Up 
One End Of The Second Candle. (30+60=90)

2. Try The Similar Problem To Measure 45 Minutes.

Ans: First Light-Up The Two Ends Of The 1st Candle And One End Of The 2nd Candle. 

When The 1st Candle Will Burn Out ,Then Light Up The Both Ends Of The 2nd Candle
(15+30=45)

3. You R Given A Thermometer. What Can U Do By This Without Measuring The 
Temperature?

Ans: If U Put Thermometer Into A Tree It Won?T Grow Anymore, Will Just Die Off

4. How It Is Possible To Place Four Points That Are Equidistance From Each Other?

OR
U R A Landscape Designer And Your Boss Asked U To Design A Landscape Such
That You Should Place 4 Trees Equidistance From Each Other. 
(Distance From Each Tree To The Other Must Be Same)

Ans: Only 3 Points Can Be Equidistant From Each Other. But If U Place Points In The 
Shape Of A Pyramid Then Its Possible

5. You Are Given A Cake; One Of Its Corner Is Broken. How Will U Cut The Rest Into
Two Equal Parts?

Ans: Slice The Cake

6. How Will You Recognize The Magnet & Magnetic Material & Non-Magnetic Material?

Ans: Drag One Piece Of Material Over Another. There Is No Attractive Force In The 
Middle Portion Of The Magnet. 

OR
Get A Piece Of Thread And Tie Up With The One Bar And Check For Poles. If It Iron Bar
Then It Moves Freely And If It Is Magnetic Bar Then It Fix In One Direction According To 
Poles.


7. If One Tyre Of A Car Suddenly Gets Stolen.... And After Sometime U Find The Tyre 
Without The Screws How Will U Make Ur Journey Complete?

Ans: Open 3 Screws, 1 From Each Tyre And Fix The Tyre.

8. How Can U Measure A Room Height Using A Thermometer?

Ans: Temp Varies With Height. But Its Dependent On Various Other Factors Like 
Humidity, Wind Etc.

9. What Is The Height Of Room If After Entering The Room With A Watch Ur Head 
Strikes A Hanging Bulb?

Ans: Oscillate The Hanging Bulb. Calculate The Time Period For One Complete 
Oscillation By Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Of The Handing Bulb. Put It In The 
Formula T=2 * 3.14 * (L/G)^1/2 
L Will Be The Length Of The Hanging Thread.
Add The L With Ur Height To Get The Height Of The Room.

OR
Ans: Drop It From The Room And Find The Time At Which It Strikes The Floor. Using
Physics Formula S = (At^2)/2 (IM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE)

10. Color Of Bear.... If It Falls From 1m Height In 1s.

Ans: We Get 'G' Perfect 10 Which Is Only In Poles...Hence Polar Bear...Color White

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Ten Top Digital Marketing Firms Revealed in May 2015 by topseos.com

The independent authority on online marketing providers, topseos.com, has named their list of the best digital marketing agencies for May 2015. The rankings are revealed at the start of each month in order to account for the latest developments and achievements of the best performing digital marketing agencies. The independent research team at topseos.com evaluates and recommends the agencies included in the analysis process each month in order to assist businesses in selecting their solution.
While many digital marketing companies are considered for the rigorous evaluation process each month only the top companies are featured in the recommendations. The rankings are revised each month in order to account for the latest developments and achievements of competing companies in areas most commonly associated with exceptional results. The five areas of evaluation used to determine the best companies include customer support, design standards, customer involvement, project analysis, and interactivity.
The 10 best digital marketing services for May 2015 are:
1-- WebiMax
2 -- Netmark
3 -- Boostability
4 -- Web Talent Marketing
5 -- OneIMS - Integrated Marketing Solutions
6 -- VJG Interactive
7 -- Bruce Clay
8 -- iCrossing
9 -- CodeWithPower
10 -- Mainstreethost
ABOUT topseos.com
topseos.com is a well-known independent authority on online marketing services. The primary ambition of topseos.com is to decide and declare those individuals or firms producing the top online marketing solutions all over the world. A specialized team of researchers examine thousands of applicants each month who are seeking to be ranked as a top online marketing product or service by the independent authority.

What Employee Relations Seeks For



Happy employees are productive employees. Successful businesses know how to manage relationships to build lasting employee satisfaction.The most important part of any business is its people. No business can run effectively without them. But people don't work in a vacuum; they need to communicate and work with others to get their jobs done. To be successful, employers need to manage relationships in the workplace to keep the business functioning smoothly, avoid problems and make sure individual employees are performing at their best.
Employee relations mean managing employer-employee relationships. Generally, employee relations isa term used to describe a company's efforts to prevent and resolve problems arising from situations at work. The goal of an employee relations program is to increase employee satisfaction and maintain good morale among workers. Happy workers are more productive, and more productivity means a better bottom line for the business.
Employee relations seeks to:
Ø  Develop and maintain a positive relationship between employees and the college through programs and policies that ensure fairness, respect and consistent treatment for all employees,
Ø  Provide means for conflict resolution,
Ø  Enhance clear and accurate communication,
Ø  Recognize the efforts and contributions of employees to the college and it's mission.

Human Resources (HR) Specialists in Employee Relations aid managers and employees in administering HR activities through their knowledge of legislation, regulations, case law, and principles. These specialists are responsible for understanding the rules, practices, and precedents related to employee conduct, performance problems, awards, and dispute resolution.

Many typical employer-employee relationships will vary on the scale of closeness and familiarity, but it is essential that all employer-employee relationships involve at least these four major characteristics:-

a) Mutual respect                                    d) Gratitude
b) Mutual reliance

c) Openness and communication

Tweets, Likes- Employee relations.


http://www.moneymatters101.com/startingabusiness/images/emp.jpg
The “social media “– love of Gen Y. Rapidly social networking sites such as  Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are getting pervasive with the Gen X too.
The advent of the technology has changed the face of employee relations in today’s work place with the new social media policies coming into the picture. Along the way are the fresh questions arising “Does social media kill productivity in the employees?” or “Does it boost the amicability among the employees?”, “Is it a threat to the companies repute?” or “Is it a new way to stay connected with the customers?”
These questions are just the starters. The challenge lies ahead with companies having to decide about the level up to which they can moderate their employee’s social media activity without barging into their private lives.
One classic example is the recent social media policy of Times of India stating the employees to disclosethe log in credentials of their personal social media accounts to the companyraised concerns regarding breach of privacy of the employees.
From the business standpoint companies can reap benefits from such platforms as the presence on social media improves the reach to potential customers and employers. Itprovides faster contact with their subordinates while eliminating unnecessary emails. Through social media employees could find relevant information for solving work related issues as well as enrich their knowledge through various blogs, video portals, groups on fb,linkedIn etc. On the other hand major issues like decrease in employee productivity, distraction at work place, corporate espionage, Cyber smearing, Cyber-attacks and bad publicity pose a threat to the companies.
According to a survey in 2012 by Assocham 35% of Indian companies engage in corporate espionage via social media to gain competitive advantage.Despite the roadblocks social media has become an eminent part of our lives.Hence, there is a need for the employers to closely monitor the social media activity while keeping the best interests of employees as well as the organization in mind.

Article by M.Aishwarya